Cape Town, Feb 21 (IANS): South Africa has seen a slight drop in the number of rhinos being killed per week, authorities said.

In 2012, South Africa lost up to three rhinos a week but this year the number of rhinos poached has decreased to two per week, Department of Environmental Affairs said Wednesday in its latest update on rhino poaching statistics.

This may be attributed to the implementation of the turnaround strategy aimed at eliminating poaching by SANParks (South African National Parks), reported Xinhua.

"This is an indication that the turnaround strategy is starting to work," the department noted.

Under the strategy, the SA National Defense Force is joining law enforcement agencies in anti-poaching efforts, backed up by aerial surveillance. The public participation also plays a role.

But poaching continues unabated. Since the beginning of this year, the number of rhinos poached has reached 102. Four rhinos were poached in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in the past week and two at a game reserve close to Polokwane in Limpopo province.

The Kruger National Park remains hardest hit by poaching, with 70 rhinos having been killed for their horns since Jan 1. Eleven rhinos have been poached in North West province, 10 in KwaZulu-Natal, seven in Limpopo and four in Mpumalanga.